Dave, Don't know if my experience will help ya or not but here goes. The hawthorn seeds I collected I removed all flesh off of them. By flesh I mean the fruit. I let the seeds dry out and then store in a cool dry place til time to stratify them. But this last procedure I did not do last yr. I sowed the seeds directly in pots with soil and kept outside. Come spring of this yr I had about 6-7 come up. Only one survived til now. I believe if ya keep the seeds in their flesh(fruit) coverin it would take the 2 yrs to sprout. Bacteria would need to eat away the flesh in order for the seeds to germinate. I'm not experienced in this but some seeds that are encased in a flesh fruit will not germinate due to a chemical that is in the flesh and only when all signs of this chemical or flesh is gone will the seeds germinate. A good scenario I've experienced is with american persimmon. Hope this helps some. If not someone will step in and set it straight.

depends what kind of hawthorn it is.for the common Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus crusgalli)

seeds need to be removed from flesh (fruit) then soaked in acid for 2-3 hours then dried (to remove saps). then warm stratified between 70 and 77 degrees F. for 120 days followed by 135 days at 41 degrees F. im not sure what the seeds of english hawthorns are like, but if the seed is dry on the tree and has a bony endocarp, you skip the acid soaking...